Three charged in July Newark mall smash-and-grab jewelry store robbery

By Natalie Neysa Alund, nalund@bayareanewsgroup.com

Posted:
09/27/2012 02:55:31 PM PDT

Updated:
09/28/2012 06:36:06 AM PDT

NEWARK -- A San Francisco man and two East Bay teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery at a Newark mall jewelry store in July, police said.

Prosecutors charged Raymond Jefferson Jr., 20, of San Francisco, a 16-year-old male from Oakland, and a 17-year-old male from Hayward with armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and false imprisonment for the July 26, incident, Newark Police Sgt. Manuel DeSerpa said Thursday.

The charges were filed Sept. 20 in Alameda County Superior Court, DeSerpa said.

Authorities say the suspects were among four robbers who stormed Zena Jewelers International in the crowded NewPark Mall, smashed display cases with a pistol, grabbed jewelry and fired shots in the shop.

No one was injured in the 12:15 p.m. armed robbery, which left broken glass and shell casings littering the store's floor.

A fourth suspect remained at large Thursday, DeSerpa said.

All three suspects were in custody Thursday and Jefferson remained behind bars at the San Francisco County Jail.

"We're not sure when he'll transferred down to the Santa Rita jail," DeSerpa said.

The investigation included assistance from the Southern Alameda County Major Crimes Task Force, Fremont Police, Union City Police, San Francisco Police, Oakland Police and the Marin County-based Twin Cities Police

The suspects -- four men each armed with a gun -- ran to at least two waiting getaway cars after the robbery and were last seen heading onto northbound Interstate 880 in a white Mercedes E-class and a black Acura or Lexus, police said.

Advertisement

Police have not released what type of jewelry was stolen or its estimated value.

The store, which opened in 2010, carries rose gold jewelry, opal and custom jewelry and estate jewelry.

Police are asking anyone with information on the heist to contact Newark police at 510-578-4237.